Grants

Louis Mansky, PhD, professor of basic sciences and director of the Institute for Molecular Virology, received an NIH R21 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for his work on cryo-CLEM imaging of HTLV-1, along with Wei Zhang, PhD, research professor of basic sciences, and Joachim Mueller, professor of physics. 

The grant seeks to “reduce the need for lengthy and costly clinical studies, thus reducing the developmental costs and accelerating the translation of dental restorative materials from the benchtop to the chairside,” Fok explained.

Specifically, Wang plans to examine Epstein-Barr Virus nuclear antigen leader protein, or EBNALP, “an EBV-encoded gene essential for EBV to transform naive B cells into proliferating lymphoblastoid cell lines.”

TEATL grants provide funds to full-time faculty members interested in supporting the acquisition of new technology that will impact the teaching and learning environments of the institution. 

A newly-received grant will transform learning and care at a School of Dentistry Outreach site. 

Faculty cannot alleviate all the stress that comes with these firsts—but Rachel Uppgaard, DDS, clinical associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, knew she could do something to build confidence for her learners.

Dira Putri, PhD candidate in the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology program at the University of Minnesota, is the inaugural recipient of the Shelley N. Grimes Conference Travel Fellowship award.

A collaboration with the University of Minnesota Medical School and other head and neck surgeons will seek to improve the quality of life of cancer patients who require prosthodontic rehabilitation.

Riggs was thrilled at the concept of a loan forgiveness program that would allow the School of Dentistry to remain competitive. “This is a life-changing amount of money for recipients,” she explained.

Cyndee Stull, DHSc, director of the Division of Dental Hygiene, takes the connection between oral and systemic health seriously. That connection informs everything she does, and it’s the inspiration behind a project being funded by Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation.